If you do not set the default value of a boolean variable in the Properties window, then it will be NULL. Whenever you use a boolean variable, you should always set its default value in the properties window.

I suspect your issue is because in Studio, you are not applying the project configuration correctly. To apply a project configuration in Studio, you must select the configuration from the Project properties window (right-click the project in solution explorer and select Properties). On the Application tab under Runtime, there is a configuration property you can use to apply a project configuration. This will need to be done to all projects in your solution.